Laikipia and beyond

A massive wild area combining small farming communities, huge private ranches, community and conservation projects within Samburu and Maasai lands. The Northern Frontier District extends further north to even wilder lands and deserts with some fairly untamed people.

It’s where our real exploration takes place with camel safaris and walking in wild places.

Laikipia and the Northern Frontier District is wild and sparsely populated. It offers a real sense of freedom and adventure. Far reaching views of Mount Kenya provide a constant reminder of how remote you are from the other world.

Much of this Reserve is covered by large, privately owned ranches, populated by cattle sharing the land with free ranging wildlife.

The Ewaso Nyiro River links Laikipia to the adjacent Samburu region where highlights include Shaba National Reserve. It was here that Joy Adamson spent her final years, returning Penny the leopard to the wild.

Meru National Reserve is the least visited of the country’s national parks and reserves. It remains an unspoiled wilderness. It was here that George and Joy Adamson returned Elsa the lioness to the wild as depicted in the film, Born Free. Meru’s landscape is characterised by stands of Doum Palm trees, dense forests, rolling hills and rocky outcrops or ‘kopjes’.

One of our favourite safari locations in East Africa – experienced travellers will understand the pleasure of escaping the main tourist haunts.

Laikipia and the Northern Frontier District matches the very experience that makes Mara so popular.

Laikipia is a place where it’s wise to go beyond the obvious…

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Highlights

Camels

Camels are peaceful, sociable animals who only spit if they’re stressed. Babies are born without humps but soon grow these reservoirs of fatty tissue, and can run within a few hours of birth. The rest of the body has minimal insulation enabling camels to survive in very hot climates. They have gorgeous thick eyelashes AND they can close their nostrils to keep out the desert dust.

Grevy's Zebra

Three different species of striking stripey mule-like equids still exist. Grevy’s Zebra is the largest in comparison to Plains Zebra and Mountain Zebra. The stripes are meant to confuse predators, in particular biting insects and lions, leopards, cheetah and wild dog who become confused as to which way the zebras are galloping.

Black rhinos

Once roaming widely across sub-Saharan Africa rhinos are now rapidly nearing extinction. The black rhino survives in remote pockets of arid wilderness and some protected reserves. It differs from the white rhino with its smaller size and a prehensile upper lip. This solitary browser feeds at night and wallows or hides under shade during the day. They’re particularly bad tempered.